The Michigan Safe Routes to School Handbook. Developed and produced by the Michigan Fitness Foundation, Michigan Department of Transportation, and United States Federal Highway Administration. Contact the Michigan Fitness Foundation, P.O. Box 27187, Lansing, Michigan, 48909, www.saferoutesmichigan.org, for copies of the Michigan Safe Routes to School Handbook and for all questions concerning use of the Handbook materials.

Prioritizing Planned Improvements

As you are going through your planning process and needs assessment, you may notice that you have many great ideas for improvements in your area. You may feel overwhelmed by the many options. Rate these planned improvements on several factors, including: cost, feasibility, possible benefit, and timetable. Once you have done this, it will make it easier for you to pinpoint which improvements will give you the most benefit for the least cost and in the shortest amount of time. It is always a good idea to tackle a few easy projects firsts. This will give you early success stories and will help you build momentum and interest in your program.

Designing Walking Route Maps

Choosing the best walking route for children to take to school and designing a map for that route can seem like a daunting task. Perform your walkability assessment first, and you will have a good idea of the best routes in your area. There are many resources available to help you create a walking route map. The Washington State Department of Transportation has developed an excellent guidebook. To access this guide, click here. The National Center for Safe Routes to School also has helpful planning tools to aid you as you develop your walking route map.

Traffic Calming Techniques

Traffic calming techniques can be as simple as adding flashing beacons and signage to the roads bordering your school, or they can be as complicated as engineering roundabouts and street narrowing. For more information about traffic calming, please use the resources below.